Written Answers Wednesday 29 August 2007

Scottish Executive

Antisocial Behaviour

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing streamlined and more rapid eviction procedures in circumstances where neighbours are affected by a tenant’s antisocial behaviour.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing more rapid eviction procedures where tenants have a previous record of causing disturbances or antisocial behaviour and where this behaviour is repeated in a new tenancy.

Stewart Maxwell: Eviction procedures for tenants in the social rented sector are governed by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and are designed to afford protection to all parties concerned. They are intended to protect tenants’ rights by requiring proof of the offending conduct by the tenant and are subject to the sheriff’s view as to the reasonableness of eviction as a remedy for that conduct. This can be a protracted process, particularly where the action is defended. But a streamlined and more rapid process was introduced under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 where proof of antisocial behaviour is already established. The 2001 act gives social landlords the power to give a "probationary tenancy" to persons who have been evicted for antisocial behaviour in any part of the UK and from any tenure. This can also be offered to tenants where they are subject to an ASBO. In both cases the landlord must provide support to tenants to help them sustain the tenancy and convert to a full SST. These probationary tenancies convert automatically to a full Scottish Secure Tenancy (SST) after 12 months, if there had been no repetition of antisocial conduct. If there has been bad behaviour, the landlord can simply serve a statutory Notice ending the tenancy. If the tenant refuses to leave, the courts must grant an order for recovery of possession if the correct procedures have been observed.

  Eviction procedures for assured and short assured tenancies in the private rented sector are set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988. Under the act, a sheriff may grant a private landlord a court order to evict a tenant on grounds of antisocial behaviour.

Antisocial Behaviour

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing longer probationary periods for tenancies where prospective tenants have a record of causing disturbances or antisocial behaviour.

Stewart Maxwell: No. We consider that the current 12 month probationary period of a short Scottish secure tenancy for tenants in social rented properties, which the landlord is required to support should be sufficient to establish whether the tenant is capable of sustaining a full Scottish secure tenancy (SST) at the end of the 12 month period. If antisocial behaviour persists, the landlord can end the short SST tenancy by simply issuing the relevant notice. If antisocial behaviour recurs once the tenancy converts to a full SST, the landlord has the option to downgrade the tenancy once again to a short SST or to take action in court to evict the tenant.

Antisocial Behaviour

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing supervision requirements for tenancies where prospective tenants have a record of causing disturbances or antisocial behaviour.

Stewart Maxwell: Where antisocial behaviour has been established through the granting of an ASBO or eviction within the previous three years, a social landlord can offer a probationary style short Scottish secure tenancy to prospective tenants. The landlord is required to provide support to enable the tenancy to convert to a full Scottish secure tenancy after 12 months and this provides the necessary supervision.

  Under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, a local authority may serve an Antisocial Behaviour Notice on a private landlord if the landlord has failed to take action to control the antisocial behaviour of his or her tenants, despite having received advice from the local authority about how to tackle the problem. The Antisocial Behaviour Notice specifies actions the landlord is required to take to address the situation. Failure to comply with the notice is a criminal offence and may result in a fine, suspension of rent, or the local authority taking over management of the property.

Antisocial Behaviour

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing a system of recording and sharing information among registered landlords about antisocial behaviour and problems affecting neighbours with the aim of ensuring that information relevant to the allocation and effective management of tenancies is passed to registered landlords considering applications from prospective applicants with a record of such behaviour.

Stewart Maxwell: We have no plans to introduce a central scheme of this nature. Landlords are able to share information on these issues.

Carers

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost to deliver the additional 10,000 respite weeks per year for carers promised in the 2007 SNP manifesto.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-165 on 4 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Carers

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide additional funding to deliver the additional 10,000 respite weeks per year for carers promised in the 2007 SNP manifesto.

Shona Robison: Decisions about future funding will be taken in the spending review later this year.

Central Heating

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on (a) promoting and (b) advertising the Warm Deal in each year since its inception, including the current financial year.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Information is not held centrally on the financial resources committed to promoting and advertising the Warm Deal programme.

  Advertising and promoting the Warm Deal programme is a contractual requirement placed on the managing agent. It is the managing agent’s responsibility to conduct a marketing and promotion strategy that ensures the annual target number of installations is achieved.

Central Heating

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on (a) promoting and (b) advertising the central heating programme in each year since its inception, including the current financial year.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Information is not held centrally on the financial resources committed to promoting and advertising the central heating programme.

  Advertising and promoting the central heating programme is a contractual requirement placed on the managing agent. It is the managing agent’s responsibility to conduct a marketing and promotion strategy that ensures the annual target number of installations is achieved.

Central Heating

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the eligibility of families with a child in receipt of disability living allowance for the central heating programme and, if so, when.

Stewart Maxwell: I have no plans to extend eligibility for fuel poverty programmes to this group. If the child is living in the social housing sector he or she should already have had the opportunity to benefit from the free central heating programme.

Central Heating

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider extending the central heating programme to eligible groups who have partial or inefficient heating systems.

Stewart Maxwell: I have no plans to extend eligibility for fuel poverty programmes. However, I welcome all views on how fuel poverty can be reduced as quickly and as affordably as possible.

Central Heating

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of homes currently in receipt of the central heating programme also receive insulation or other energy saving measures.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Programme Managing Agent (Scottish Gas) has indicated that in 2006-07 all 4,574 homes benefiting from the central heating programme also received energy advice and pipe lagging (where a wet system was installed) and of that number around 53% received at least one other insulation measure.

Central Heating

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it takes to eliminate fuel poverty for those households where the maximum grants available under the Warm Deal and central heating programme are insufficient to install full central heating or carry out full insulation and draught proofing.

Stewart Maxwell: The maximum grant rates under the central heating programme are set at a level that should adequately cover installation costs. These rates are reviewed periodically.

  The Warm Deal allows a grant of up to £500 for a range of energy efficiency measures including loft and cavity wall insulation, draught proofing and pipe-lagging. We have instructed Scottish Gas to work with the power companies to secure resources from the Energy Efficiency Commitment to help increase the number of measures available for householders wherever possible.

Central Heating

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating units have been installed in 2007 in areas not connected to the gas network and what steps are being taken to prioritise systems for eligible residents living in such areas.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Information is not held centrally on the number of central heating systems installed in areas not connected to the gas network.

  In all applications, priority is given to householders over 75, those living alone and the disabled.

Education

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to respond to the report on outdoor education presented to the previous administration at the end of Session 2 of the Parliament and, if so, when it will do so.

Maureen Watt: Officials have been working in conjunction with outdoor providers, educationalists and Learning Teaching Scotland in developing the programme of work on outdoor learning since 2005. We have decided to continue the funding for this project to take forward some of the findings from the report. This includes the need to ensure that outdoor learning is recognised as an important context which will help teachers provide opportunities to deliver the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence. We do not plan to issue a formal response but continue to work with the interested parties.

Education

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to limit the size of multi-stage composite classes in rural schools.

Maureen Watt: No. Teachers terms and conditions of service already limits the size of all composite classes to a maximum of 25 pupils. In time this composite limit will reduce to 18 when the class contains any P1 to P3 pupils.

Energy

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its total carbon emission was in the last year for which figures are available.

John Swinney: The Government currently reports on the equivalent CO 2  emissions relative to energy consumption and travel for official purposes.

  During 2006-07 the emissions relative to the total energy consumption from buildings on the core government estate were 8,256 tonnes of CO2. Around a fifth of the total floor area of the core government estate is occupied by a number of other tenants. As it is not possible to disaggregate their energy use from the total consumed this figure also includes those emissions attributed to these minor occupiers.

  The total emissions relative to travel undertaken by core government staff for official purposes equates to 2,768 tonnes of CO2 during 2006-07.

  On the figures available this gives a total of 11,024 tonnes of CO2. Work is currently being done to calculate the emissions relative to wastes arising which will be incorporated into the annual report on the environmental performance of the Scottish Government estate for 2006-07 which is due to be published during December 2007.

Energy

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its total energy consumption was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

John Swinney: During 2006-07 the total energy consumption for the buildings on

  the core Government estate was as follows:

  

Energy Type
Consumption
(kWh)


Electricity
14,520,971


Gas
9,585,155


Liquid Fuel
707,487


Total
24,813,613



  Around a fifth of the total floor area of the core government estate is occupied by a number of other tenants. As it is not possible to disaggregate their energy use from the total consumed the figures include that used by these minor occupiers.

Energy

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what energy consumption per person was for its officials in the most recent year for which figures are available.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government provides accommodation for a number of minor occupiers in the buildings on its core estate. Around a fifth of the total floor area of the estate is occupied by staff not directly employed by the government. No central record is kept of staff numbers of these minor occupiers and it is not possible to disaggregate their energy consumption from that of the government’s so we are, therefore, unable to accurately calculate the energy consumption per person for Scottish Government officials. If the minor occupiers were responsible for one fifth of the total energy consumption, then the energy consumption per person would have been 2,851kWh.

Energy

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what energy consumption per person was for all of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in the most recent year for which figures are available.

John Swinney: The information you requested is not held centrally.

  During the debate on Greener Scotland, Richard Lochhead advised Parliament that the Scottish Government and wider public sector, including local authorities, should become exemplars or pioneers in their own environmental performance, including their procurement and management of assets.

  This is one of the objectives of the newly formed Greener Scotland Directorate, who will work to ensure that all parts of the public sector adopt appropriate environmental management policies, procedures and targets, including on energy, and provide annual performance reports, which will be published on the Scottish Executive internet. This information is currently being gathered for 50 agencies and public bodies under an existing initiative, and will be published later this year and annually thereafter. In the light of our commitment to secure a Greener Scotland and have the public sector acting as exemplars, it is now proposed to extend the number of stakeholders in this initiative, to all other agencies and non-departmental public bodies, and this further information will be published when it is available.

Energy

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what benchmarks it has set for per person annual energy consumption for its officials.

John Swinney: The government has not established a set of benchmarks for energy consumption per person. To address the impacts of the energy consumption of its estate the previous administration set targets to reduce the CO 2 emissions attributed to energy use in our buildings by 12.6% by March 2011 building to 30% by March 2020, each using 1999-2000 as the baseline year. These are total emissions reduction targets and are not expressed on a per capita basis.

Energy

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its annual energy

  bill is.

John Swinney: The total energy costs incurred by the Scottish Government during 2006-07 are as follows:

  

Energy Type
Expenditure
(£)


Electricity
1,339,705


Gas
256,088


Liquid Fuel
34,452


Total
1,630,965

Energy

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the top 10 energy users in Scotland.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Executive does not hold this information.

  However, as part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, data on the UK’s most energy intensive industries, including covered installations along with their carbon dioxide emissions and allowances, are reported to the European Commission. This information can be found at the eu.europa website at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ets/oha.do?form=ohaandaccount.registryCode=GBandaccountType=120andide ntifierIn Reg=andaccountHolder=andpermitIdentifier=andcomplianceStatus=-1andmainActivityType=-1andsurren deredUnitID= andinstallationIdentifier=andinstallationName=andsearch=SearchandsearchType=ohaandcurrentSortSettings.

  The following table covers the installations that produced the most CO2 in burning fuel to generate production in Scotland and who are included in the EU ETS. Other installations which may be large energy users that are not in the EU ETS are not included on the list.

  

Installation Name
Allowance to Distribute
Amount Surrendered


Longannet Power Station
7,360,996
10,126,655


Cockenzie Power Station
2,196,205
4,910,894


Peterhead Power Station
3,852,399
3,448,929


Grangemouth Refining
1,463,785
1,449,959


Grangemouth Power Station
1,188,047
751,024


Grangemouth CHP LTD
740,129
745,367


Grangemouth Olefins
225,335
255,910


Fife Ethylene Plant
184,681
241,301


SAGE Terminal
227,427
207,523


St Fergus North Sea Gas Terminal
157,149
191,719


DSM Dalry
195,248
176,854


Flotta Oil Terminal
260,325
148,631


Kirriemuir Compressor Station
118,352
130,432


Fife Power Station
287,535
129,298


Aberdeen Compressor Station
108,667
115,574


UPM-Kymmene (UK) Ltd
86,377
92,863


Lerwick Power Station
79,337
77,394


Norbord Limited
78,471
70,861


Moffat Compressor Station
85,826
68,689


Total EandP UK PLC St Fergus
76,463
62,635


Brigghouse Bay Compressor Station
47,524
59,061


GlaxoSmithKline Irvine
58,105
52,747


Beattock Compressor Station
38,126
46,821


The Girvan Distillery
58,340
43,424


Nynas UK AB Dundee
22,624
29,392


Ciba Specialty Chemicals
41,611
26,147


Kemfine UK Ltd
43,340
25,267


Strathclyde Distillery
37,046
24,191


Ardeer Site
29,289
23,443


HM Naval Base Clyde
18,618
20,915


Bathgate Compressor Station
96,091
18,819


Scottish Power Dupont Power Plant
20,542
30,620


Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
14,156
16,995


Ninewells Hospital
16,028
14,407


FPS Brechin Pump Station
29,525
13,918


Western General Hospital
13,617
12,516


Glasgow Royal Infirmary
8,826
12,327


Caledonian Cheese Co Ltd Stranraer
12,885
10,890


Haden Building Management Ltd
15,001
10,672


Promat Glasgow Ltd
15,831
10,488


Torness Power Station
3,269
9,911


Nigg Oil Terminal
8,881
9,298


Raigmore Hospital
7,247
8,798


FPS Cruden Bay Reception Facility
24,400
8,577


University of Strathclyde
7,477
8,559


RNAD Coulport
11,059
7,916


St John’s Hospital
5,743
7,672


Univ of Aberdeen Central Heating Station
6,707
7,531


GE Plastics ABS Ltd
11,804
6,445


University of Glasgow
4,597
6,036


Etna Brickworks
8,090
5,803


RAF Lossiemouth
7,389
5,796


GlaxoSmithKline
11,308
5,777


Diagio Scotland Supply
4,108
5,308


Woodend Hospital
4,092
5,281


Battery Point Power Station
3,066
5,255


Western Infirmary
5,204
5,090


Yorkhill Hospital
4,567
5,048


University of St Andrews
3,728
5,012


Raeburn Brick Ltd
5,713
4,925


Crosshouse Hospital
3,660
4,922


RAF Kinloss
6,135
4,842


Wishaw General Hospital
3,442
4,341


Stobhill General Hospital
5,651
4,298


Errol Brick Company Limited
6,327
4,073


Gartnaval General Hospital
4,957
4,019


Heriot Watt University
6,287
3,978


Stirling Royal Infirmary
3,418
3,611


Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary
3,523
3,554


Monklands Hospital
4,618
3,242


Mayfield Brickworks
3,580
2,851


The Westfield Biomass Plant
1,245
1,985


Loch Carnan Power Station
813
1,801


Hunterston B Power Station
463
1,581


Glenmavis LNG Storage Facility
2,794
1,330


Hairmyres Hospital
2,281
863


Kirkwall Power Station
445
118


Rolls-Royce plc
11,712
5


Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station
117
0


Carrongrove Board Mill
53,433
0


Scottish Courage, Fountain Brewery
15,663
0


Davidson Mill
96,711
0


Nestle Rowntree Girvan Boiler house
13,916
0

Energy Efficiency

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies have not adopted an energy savings plan.

John Swinney: The agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) who have not adopted energy policies are:

  Transport Scotland

  Social Work Inspection Agency

  Bòrd Gàidhlig na h-Alba

  Architecture and Design Scotland

  Scottish Police Services Authority.

  The above organisations are relatively new and are included in this year’s workplan for Greener Scotland Directorate who are taking forward an initiative to ensure agencies and public bodies adopt appropriate environmental management policies and targets including energy.

  The following Advisory NDPBs and Tribunals do not have an energy policy as they are either so small they have no responsibilities for buildings or energy, follow the energy policies of the major occupier or landlord, or do not require permanent office accommodation.

  Advisory Committee on Sites of special Scientific Interest

  Building Standards Advisory Committee

  Fisheries (Electricity) Committee

  Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland

  Justices of the Peace Advisory Council for Scotland

  Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland

  Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland

  Public Transport Users’ Committee for Scotland

  Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards

  Scottish Agricultural Wages Board

  Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board

  Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee

  Scottish Records Advisory Committee

  Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland

  Children’s Panel (32)

  Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland

  Lands Tribunal for Scotland

  Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland

  Parole Board for Scotland

  Rent Assessment Panel for Scotland

  Scottish Charity Appeals Panel.

Energy Efficiency

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that homeowners are made aware the benefits of improving energy efficiency in their homes.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is keen to ensure that homeowners are aware of the benefits of improving energy efficiency in the home. Provision of such information can lead to lower fuel bills, improved quality of life and reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

  The Scottish Government funds the work of the Energy Saving Trust (EST) in Scotland with about £4.8 million for energy efficiency programmes annually. The EST promotes the benefits of energy efficiency to householders through the work of the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre network across Scotland, including the availability of grants for loft and cavity wall insulation.

  Our Warm Deal and the central heating programmes are designed to reduce fuel poverty by improving the energy efficiency of the home. Both programmes include energy efficiency advice alongside the installation of energy efficiency measures.

Fuel Poverty

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it takes to eliminate fuel poverty in homes considered hard to heat due to the design of the property.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Executive is funding a pilot of renewable technologies in low income households off the gas grid. A report on this is due next autumn.

  All householders including those in hard to heat homes are encouraged to seek energy efficiency advice from their local Energy Efficiency Advice Centres and benefits checks which are provided by, for example, Citizens Advice Scotland.

Homelessness

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total estimated cost is of meeting the 2012 target to end priority need assessment in relation to homelessness, also broken down by local authority.

Stewart Maxwell: A wide range of actions is required to meet the 2012 target and it is for each local authority to decide the most effective methods of achieving the target in their area. Central Government funding for homelessness services, housing supply and the wider range of services required to meet the target will be considered as part of the Spending Review process.

Housing

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the population lived in (a) an owned property and (b) a council house in (i) 1950, (ii) 1960, (iii) 1970, (iv) 1980, (v) 1990, (vi) 2000 and (vii) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Stewart Maxwell: The information requested is provided in the following table. Data on tenure for Scotland are not available prior to the 1961 Census.

  Population by Tenure: Scotland 1961-2006

  

 
Owner Occupied%
Rented
Total Population


Privately%
From Housing Association%
From Public Authority%
 


1961
23
30
 
48
5,179,432


1971
28
15
 
58
5,050,625


1981
35
8
1
55
4,954,328


1991
56
6
2
36
4,921,151


2001
66
7
5
21
4,976,005


2006
70
7
8
14
5,116,900



  Sources: Census, 2006 Scottish Household Survey and mid-year population estimates from the General Register Office (Scotland).

  Notes:

  1. Private renting includes renting with a job or business.

  2. 1971 and 1981 tenure data do not include non-permanent accommodation.

  3. Public authorities include local authorities, new towns and Scottish Homes (Scottish Special Housing Association prior to April 1998). Scottish Homes transferred ownership of its stock during 2005.

  4. Housing associations came into operation in late 1970s.

  5. 2001 data from 2001 Census adjusted tenure tables on Housing Statistics branch reference site (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/18531/13575).

  6. In 2003, Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow and Scottish Borders councils transferred their housing stock to housing associations.

  7. For 2006, percentages are based on Scottish Household Survey household data, with total population from GRO(S) mid-year estimates. Figures have been adjusted to take account of respondents in local authorities with complete stock transfers who said they rented their accommodation from a public authority.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new houses to be sited in or near Stow, Galashiels or Tweedbank have been proposed under Scottish Borders Council’s draft development strategy.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Scottish Borders Finalised Local Plan provides indicative housing capacity for all settlements across the Borders.

  The current indicative housing capacity as identified in the Local Plan for Galashiels, Stow and Tweedbank is:

  Galashiels – 955 units

  Stow – 30 units

  Tweedbank – 131 units.

  The Finalised Local Plan is available at: http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/life/planningandbuilding/plansandpolicy/2748.html.

Housing

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed housing supply task force will be set up.

Stewart Maxwell: The first meeting of the task force is scheduled to take place on 29 August 2007 and it will meet regularly thereafter.

Housing

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the total value of the housing stock to be, broken down into (a) privately owned homes, (b) council owned homes and (c) housing association homes.

Stewart Maxwell: The value of the housing stock varies considerably depending on market conditions. The latest estimates are based on November 2006 valuations of the sample of 3,090 dwellings in the 2003-04 Scottish House Condition Survey for which both a full social interview and a full physical survey were obtained. The estimates are shown in the following table.

  

Category
Tenure
Value(Billions)
Sub Tenure
Value(Billions)


a
Privately owned homes
£255
Owner-occupied stock
£234


Private rented stock
£21


b
Local authority/other public sector stock
£28
 
 


c
Housing association/ housing co-operative stock
£18
 
 


Total
 
£301
 
 



  The total value of Scotland’s housing stock was estimated, on this basis, to be £301 billion in November 2006.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will re-examine current legislation, along with financial arrangements and guidance to local authorities and housing associations, to encourage allocation and management arrangements that promote tenant safety and security in multi-storey tower blocks.

Stewart Maxwell: We have no plans to re-examine legislation or financial arrangements regarding allocation and management of multi-storey tower blocks. We have commissioned research on landlords’ views of tensions in allocations policy and practice, and expect to publish this in the autumn.

  The key to promoting tenant safety and security rests with effective crime prevention and antisocial behaviour strategies and tenancy management. In relation to tenancy management, a model tenancy agreement embodying strong conditions relating to behaviour was issued to all social landlords in 2001 to help strengthen the management of all Scottish secure and short Scottish secure tenancies. Social landlords must enforce tenancy conditions and have many management tools available to tackle antisocial behaviour, including the power to offer probationary style tenancies to those found guilty of antisocial behaviour.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tenanted tower blocks above eight storeys currently have 24-hour concierge schemes.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities (a) operate and (b) do not operate 24-hour concierge schemes in tenanted tower blocks above eight storeys.

Stewart Maxwell: This information is not held centrally.

Housing

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing age restrictions on eligibility for new tenancies in tower blocks to help to ensure the safety and security of older tenants already resident in the buildings.

Stewart Maxwell: We have no plans to introduce age restrictions on eligibility for new tenancies in tower blocks. It is for landlords and the police to ensure that all tenants can be safe and secure in their homes.

Housing

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money was paid, or is planned to be paid, to registered social landlords through the Scottish Homes and Communities Scotland Approved Development Programme for each financial year from 1989-90 to 2007-08, including housing association grant, broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Records of Housing Association Grant paid to registered social landlords, broken down by local authority area, are available back to 1996-97, which is the first year of the current local authority areas.

  Grants paid to registered social landlords, through Scottish Homes and Communities Scotland Development Programme from 1996-97 to 2007-follows:

  

Local Authority
1996-97
(£ Million)
1997-98
(£ Million)
1998-99
(£ Million)
2000-01
(£ Million)
2001-02
(£ Million)


Aberdeenshire
2.995
3.368
3.497
4.619
5.158


Angus
3.665
4.711
3.152
2.584
4.194


Argyll and Bute
5.522
4.368
5.380
4.249
3.930


City of Aberdeen
4.798
3.921
4.905
5.579
4.811


City of Dundee
5.553
4.648
6.430
7.659
5.904


City of Edinburgh
15.907
16.862
15.984
15.933
13.334


City of Glasgow
51.187
50.703
54.134
62.725
70.022


Clackmannanshire
1.101
0.609
1.300
0.870
2.787


Dumfries and Galloway
2.599
2.428
2.880
4.549
4.279


East Ayrshire
2.515
0.396
0.791
2.495
1.077


East Dunbartonshire
1.027
0.854
1.702
1.497
0.680


East Lothian
2.214
1.946
1.618
0.953
0.714


East Renfrewshire
1.211
2.330
1.133
2.717
1.585


Falkirk
2.400
1.790
1.235
1.804
2.176


Fife
7.854
7.447
7.673
7.250
8.695


Highland
4.245
5.120
5.256
6.418
8.022


Inverclyde
7.308
6.214
5.938
5.963
5.360


Midlothian
0.989
1.768
0.431
0.676
0.942


Moray
0.963
0.942
0.893
0.128
1.202


North Ayrshire
2.436
2.410
2.937
1.961
2.599


North Lanarkshire
10.088
9.525
9.705
11.870
8.265


Orkney
0.885
0.839
1.095
1.535
1.963


Perth and Kinross
6.213
4.300
4.921
5.202
5.409


Renfrewshire
7.049
6.898
9.520
9.197
10.584


Shetland
1.211
1.546
0.504
0.416
0.583


South Ayrshire
2.586
2.626
3.603
3.529
4.105


South Lanarkshire
5.643
6.489
7.008
5.195
12.171


Stirling
2.504
1.309
2.323
1.900
3.198


The Scottish Borders
3.960
3.358
3.297
3.133
4.082


West Dunbartonshire
7.579
7.644
5.304
6.474
10.509


Western Isles
1.064
0.178
1.460
0.549
1.345


West Lothian
3.343
3.032
2.994
3.624
2.197


Scotland
178.613
170.577
179.004
193.256
211.882



  

Local Authority
2002-03
(£ Million)
2003-04
(£ Million)
2004-05
(£ Million)
2005-06
(£ Million)
2006-07
(£ Million)
2007-081
(£ Million)


Aberdeenshire
7.080
12.371
11.646
10.865
16.143
15.180


Angus
2.813
3.912
3.599
5.412
8.208
5.415


Argyll and Bute
3.526
6.985
9.774
14.211
21.218
15.200


City of Aberdeen
3.988
3.231
6.779
19.888
4.985
6.717


City of Dundee
5.109
7.532
9.760
10.554
12.975
12.250


City of Edinburgh
13.385
16.789
17.383
32.015
39.205
36.100


City of Glasgow
111.461
116.613
110.874
126.740
139.589
126.950


Clackmannanshire
1.455
1.835
1.865
2.338
2.640
3.500


Dumfries and Galloway
4.265
5.718
8.269
10.447
14.868
12.667


East Ayrshire
1.135
0.691
1.496
9.001
9.182
11.533


East Dunbartonshire
0.099
0.440
0.567
0.190
5.281
5.800


East Lothian
1.014
1.684
1.803
3.198
4.440
5.600


East Renfrewshire
1.359
2.683
2.954
1.181
2.477
4.775


Falkirk
1.999
0.919
0.677
1.894
4.350
7.366


Fife
7.643
8.894
11.789
18.553
15.843
21.545


Highland
9.141
12.835
18.650
31.455
39.530
35.347


Inverclyde
6.534
5.061
5.868
9.193
12.324
18.565


Midlothian
1.405
0.841
0.896
4.925
2.786
4.580


Moray
0.459
1.827
5.129
9.088
11.261
9.150


North Ayrshire
3.848
3.981
8.757
7.579
11.686
10.281


North Lanarkshire
11.457
10.256
12.367
13.854
17.699
23.750


Orkney
1.514
2.189
0.913
5.119
4.193
5.223


Perth and Kinross
5.238
6.765
9.186
7.137
15.954
15.070


Renfrewshire
9.372
13.374
14.689
17.092
21.135
14.600


Shetland
1.288
1.033
1.963
1.441
2.914
3.727


South Ayrshire
3.461
3.942
5.540
4.410
6.175
6.674


South Lanarkshire
9.536
13.632
12.979
14.692
17.995
19.284


Stirling
3.118
4.362
4.647
3.403
8.992
10.724


The Scottish Borders
2.733
4.019
5.207
4.181
7.300
7.200


West Dunbartonshire
8.194
8.133
9.191
13.125
8.676
10.350


Western Isles
1.653
2.763
2.427
2.748
5.873
6.072


West Lothian
2.673
6.085
7.839
6.148
10.706
10.221


Scotland
247.955
291.395
325.483
422.077
506.603
501.416



  Note: 1. Planned expenditure.

Planning

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether designated ancient woodland areas within settlements and proposed development areas should be marked on national park and local authority plans at all stages of the consultation process and on the final plan.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Stewart Stevenson: National Planning Policy Guideline 14: Natural Heritage (NPPG 14) states that planning authorities should seek to protect trees, groups of trees and areas of woodland where they have natural heritage value or contribute to the character or amenity of a particular locality. Ancient and semi-natural woodlands are recognised as having the greatest value for nature conservation. This should be reflected in local plans.

Poverty

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence was of poverty in (a) 1960, (b) 1970, (c) 1980, (d) 1990, (e) 2000 and (f) the most recent year for which figures are available and what comparative information it has for (a) the United Kingdom as a whole, (b) each EU member state and (c) each OECD nation.

Stewart Maxwell: The incidence of poverty in Scotland each year since 1994-95 is published in Scottish Households Below Average Income 2005-06 – Revised (Bib. number 43209). Information on the incidence of poverty in Scotland prior to 1994-95 is not held centrally.

  The incidence of poverty in the UK in 1979, 1981, 1987, 1998-99, 1990-91 – 1995-97 is published in Households Below Average Income: An Analysis of the Income Distribution – 2005-06 (Revised) (Bib. number 42543).

  Information on the incidence of poverty in each EU member state is included in the EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions published by the Central Statistics Office (Bib. number 43453).

  Information on the incidence of poverty in each OECD nation is not held centrally, however information can be found at the OECD Family Database website: http://www.oecd.org/document/4/0,3343,en_2649_34819_37836996_1_1_1_1,00.html.

Regeneration

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in completing the East End Regeneration Route.

Stewart Maxwell: The construction of the East End Regeneration Route is a matter for Glasgow City Council as the local roads authority.

Renewable Energy

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its energy consumption is sourced from renewables.

John Swinney: The government procures 100% of the electricity required to run its buildings from renewable sources which, during 2006-07, accounted for around 59% of the total energy consumed.

Scottish Parliament

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has published proposals to bring the Parliament closer to the people.

Bruce Crawford: We will discuss proposals to bring Parliament closer to the people of Scotland with other parties and the Procedures Committee on the return of the Scottish Parliament in September. We will write to both the Convener of the Procedures Committee, as the committee most concerned with these matters, and to the Parliamentary Conveners’ Group, to capture the whole range of parliamentary views, seeking a meeting to take this forward. This will include looking at greater support for appropriate backbench legislative proposals, and opportunities to address matters of significant public concern, for example public petitions which could bring forward constructive legislative opportunities, where these are achievable within the government’s overall programme.

Scottish Water

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the non-executive board members of Scottish Water are appointed and what period of time each appointment covers.

The Executive have supplied the following corrected answer:

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water’s Board members were appointed by ministers in 2002 after a widely advertised recruitment campaign under rules laid down for public appointments by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland (OCPAS). Current members were re-appointed for second terms of three years, again in accordance with OCPAS rules. Current membership and terms of appointment are given in the following table:

  

Name
Position
Start date
End Date


Mr Ronnie Mercer
Interim Chair
Chair
18 April 2006
1 October 2007
30 September 2007
30 September 2011


Mr Ian McMillan
Member 
1 April 06
31 March 2009


Mr Graeme Crombie
Member 
1 April 2006
31 March 2009


Mr David Gray
Member 
1 April 2005
31 March 2008


Professor Paul Jowitt
Member 
1 April 2005
31 March 2008


Ms Rita Theil
Member 
1 April 2006
31 March 2009


Mr Pat Kelly
Member 
1 April 2006
31 March 2009

Sports

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what matters will be considered in the transport plan provided for under section 31 of the draft Glasgow Commonwealth Games (Scotland) Bill.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any forecast has been made of expenditure resulting from any works required under section 31 of the draft Glasgow Commonwealth Games (Scotland) Bill and, if so, what the forecast is of such expenditure.

Stewart Maxwell: The Glasgow 2014 transport plan will set out how the existing and proposed transport infrastructure around games venues will support the games and provide details of operational transport proposals. These will include transport services for athletes, officials and media and a comprehensive spectator access strategy for each venue.

  These operational transport proposals will cost £13.58 million in 2007 prices. This figure is included within the Games Organising Committee budget.

  Further details of the transport proposals are contained within the Glasgow 2014 Candidate City File, which can be found at http://www.glasgow2014.com/Our-Bid/Candidate-City-File/.

Sports

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the provision of community-based sports facilities.

Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-2256 on 1 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Teachers

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many supply teachers are currently employed, broken down by local authority area.

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many supply teachers are on temporary contracts, broken down by local authority area.

Maureen Watt: The statistical Bulletin Teachers in Scotland provides detail of the number of permanently employed supply staff by authority. The latest bulletin for 2006 can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/27085753/97 .

  The number of supply staff employed on temporary contracts will vary from day to day due to short-term supply needs and is not held centrally.

Teachers

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued on best practice regarding the employment of supply teachers.

Maureen Watt: The employment of supply teachers is a matter for local authorities and we have not issued guidance on this issue.

Teachers

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to address the situation of supply teachers who cannot have their situation reviewed as they have not had the necessary one year’s continual service.

Maureen Watt: This is a matter for the local authority. Under the terms of the Agreement, A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century , procedures for the recruitment and deployment of teaching staff are devolved to local authority responsibility.

  The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) has produced a Code of Practice on the Use of Temporary Contracts. The code aims to assist councils in managing their staffing requirements in a co-ordinated and structured way and ensure that employees on temporary contracts are not treated less favourably than permanent staff.

  There is no automatic right to permanent status and movement to a permanent post is normally through an application process. Under the Fixed Term Employees Regulations 2002, any temporary contract extended beyond four years will be made permanent unless the authority can objectively justify not doing so.